Is defamation case bailable in India?

Asked by: Ottilie Tremblay  |  Last update: July 22, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (27 votes)

Under the Criminal law, Defamation is a bailable, non-cognizable offence and compoundable offence. Hence a policeman may arrest only with an arrest warrant issued by a magistrate. The Indian Penal Code punishes the offence with a simple imprisonment up to two years, or with fine, or both.

How long can you go to jail for defamation in India?

Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code provides for punishment for defamation. Any person guilty of defamation shall be charged with simple imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both.

How to deal with defamation case in India?

Filing of a civil suit

The procedure is as under: Order 7of CPC mentions the filing of a civil suit and so a suit for defamation can be filed under this. In civil cases, the parties to the suit are the plaintiff and the defendant. The cases that are of civil nature, must be filed in the civil courts.

Is defamation a criminal offense in India?

In India, 'defamation' is a criminal as well as civil offence that is punishable with imprisonment (under Sections; 499 – definition and 500 – punishment of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) / Defamation law) and by the award of damages (under the law of torts).

Is defamation criminal or civil in India?

Defamation is both a criminal (which carries a prison sentence) and a civil offence (punishable through the award of damages) in India. The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) codifies the criminal law on defamation, whereas defamation is penalised as a civil offence under the law of torts.

Watch: Rahul Gandhi's Lawyer On Bail In The Criminal Defamation Case

24 related questions found

How much does a defamation case cost in India?

between ₹ 10 Lakh and upto ₹ 10 million at 8% and above ₹ 10 million 1% of the amount claimed. To illustrate, if damages is claimed in a defamation suit for Rs. 10 lakhs, the plaintiff is required to pay an amount of ₹ 98,400/- as court fees.

What is defamation charge in India?

Punishment for Defamation

Section 501 of the IPC states that any person who prints or engraves any matter, knowing or having good reason to believe that such matter is defamatory of any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine, or with both.

What happens if you lose a defamation case in India?

Penalty for defamation

Under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, a provision of simple imprisonment up to two years and fine for defamation has also been made. This is a non-cognizable and bailable offense. Cognizance is given to the magistrate for filing criminal cases by ordinary libel.

What are the consequences of defamation in India?

In India, defamation is categorized as either criminal or civil, and both types are covered by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC). Under criminal defamation, individuals can be charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment or a fine.

What is the defence against defamation in India?

As per criminal law, proving the statement to be true is not enough. The defendant must also prove that such a statement was made for bona fide reasons for the good of the public. But under civil law, proving that the statement made are true facts is enough for defence.

How do you win a defamation case?

In order to be successful in a defamation lawsuit, you must prove:
  1. The defendant made a false statement of fact. ...
  2. The statement was communicated to a third party. ...
  3. The defendant was at fault. ...
  4. The statement was not privileged. ...
  5. The plaintiff sustained damage.

What is an example of a defamation case in India?

For example, in the case of Jawaharlal Darda v. Manoharrao Ganpatrao Kapiskar (1998), a publisher, who published a statement against a minister regarding the misappropriation of government money, was held not guilty of the offence of defamation.

What are the types of defamation cases in India?

There are two kinds of defamation; libel and slander. Libel is the act to publishing a defamatory statement in some permanent form. Libel includes: written statement, graphical or a recorded statement. Whereas, slander is the act of making false and defamatory statement orally, or in some transitory form.

How many days is a defamation case?

A defamation trial could last anywhere from a day to a week or more, depending on how much evidence and witness testimony is necessary to prove your case.

How long will the defamation case last?

That usually becomes clear within the first 30 to 90 days after a defamation claim arises, during which time settlement would be likely. The discovery phase usually lasts from six to 12 months following the lawsuit's filing, and a defamation case can be settled at any point over that timeline.

What are the 5 elements of defamation India?

5 Elements Of Defamation
  • A False Statement of Fact Was Made.
  • The Statement Was Communicated to a Third Party.
  • The Defendant Was Negligent or Acted With Absolute Malice in Determining the Truth of the Statement.
  • The Statement Was Not Privileged.
  • The Statement Caused Some Type of Damage.

What happens when someone wins a defamation case?

If you win your defamation case, you could get millions of dollars or as little as $1. You can typically get compensation for financial losses and emotional distress in a defamation case. You might be able to get punitive damages—an award designed to punish misconduct—in some cases.

Who pays for a defamation case?

"Costs" in a Defamation Case

If you are a plaintiff, a big advantage in hiring a lawyer is that the firm will usually pay most, if not all, of the litigation costs. Defamation cases can be very expensive because they are very fact-driven.

What are the 3 types of defamation?

Libel and slander are both types of defamation. Libel is an untrue defamatory statement that is made in writing. Slander is an untrue defamatory statement that is spoken orally. The difference between defamation and slander is that a defamatory statement can be made in any medium.

Is it easy to file a defamation case in India?

A criminal defamation can be filed through private complaint with magistrate under section 499 and 500 of indian penal code. There is no court fees in criminal matters expect ticket fees. The procedure in civil court and criminal case take time they can go for 2-3 years and fees of lawyer is also needed to be paid.

Are defamation cases expensive?

If your attorney does charge on a contingency fee basis, you can expect to pay anywhere from 25% and 40% of the amount you recover in compensation for the defamation. If your case is resolved quickly through an out of court settlement, your fees will usually be on the lower end of this scale.

Is a defamation case difficult?

It's safe to say that pursuing a defamation suit against someone can be difficult, but it is not impossible. To prove defamation, you must determine that the statement can easily be described as false, published, harmful, or unprivileged.

What is the sentence for defamation case?

The charity successfully brought a defamation case against the couple. But he can only use the cash to defend himself in a separate defamation case. She was a witness in the defamation case. An early defamation case involving a government minister, although a loss, made his reputation.

What are the 2 types of defamation?

Libel and slander are types of defamatory statements. Libel is a defamatory statement that is written. Slander is a defamatory statement that is oral. At common law, libel and slander were analyzed under different sets of standards, with libel recognized as the more serious wrong.

What is the strongest defense against a defamation claim?

Truth. The strongest defense against defamation is the truth. A statement cannot be considered defamation if it is a true statement, according to the very definition of defamation.